Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SIGNALING OF SCALABILITY PARAMETERS IN VIDEO BITSTREAM
Cross-Reference to Related Application
[1] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No.
62/903,603, filed on September 20, 2019, and U.S. Patent Application No.
17/019,959, filed on
September 14, 2020, the entirety of which are incorporated herein.
Field
[2] The disclosed subject matter relates to video coding and decoding, and
more specifically,
to the signaling of spatial, quality, and multiview scalability in a video
bitstream.
Background
[3] Video coding and decoding using inter-picture prediction with motion
compensation has
been known. Uncompressed digital video can consist of a series of pictures,
each picture having
a spatial dimension of, for example, 1920 x 1080 luminance samples and
associated chrominance
samples. The series of pictures can have a fixed or variable picture rate
(informally also known
as frame rate), of, for example 60 pictures per second or 60 Hz. Uncompressed
video has
significant bitrate requirements. For example, 1080p60 4:2:0 video at 8 bit
per sample
(1920x1080 luminance sample resolution at 60 Hz frame rate) requires close to
1.5 Gbit/s
bandwidth. An hour of such video requires more than 600 GByte of storage
space.
[4] One purpose of video coding and decoding can be the reduction of
redundancy in the
input video signal, through compression. Compression can help reducing
aforementioned
bandwidth or storage space requirements, in some cases by two orders of
magnitude or more.
Both lossless and lossy compression, as well as a combination thereof can be
employed.
Lossless compression refers to techniques where an exact copy of the original
signal can be
reconstructed from the compressed original signal. When using lossy
compression, the
reconstructed signal may not be identical to the original signal, but the
distortion between
original and reconstructed signal is small enough to make the reconstructed
signal useful for the
intended application. In the case of video, lossy compression is widely
employed. The amount
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of distortion tolerated depends on the application; for example, users of
certain consumer
streaming applications may tolerate higher distortion than users of television
contribution
applications. The compression ratio achievable can reflect that: higher
allowable/tolerable
distortion can yield higher compression ratios.
[5] A video encoder and decoder can utilize techniques from several broad
categories,
including, for example, motion compensation, transform, quantization, and
entropy coding, some
of which will be introduced below.
[6] Historically, video encoders and decoders tended to operate on a given
picture size that
was, in most cases, defined and stayed constant for a coded video sequence
(CVS), Group of
Pictures (GOP), or a similar multi-picture timeframe. For example, in MPEG-2,
system designs
are known to change the horizontal resolution (and, thereby, the picture size)
dependent on
factors such as activity of the scene, but only at I pictures, hence typically
for a GOP. The
resampling of reference pictures for use of different resolutions within a CVS
is known, for
example, from ITU-T Rec. H.263 Annex P. However, here the picture size does
not change,
only the reference pictures are being resampled, resulting potentially in only
parts of the picture
canvas being used (in case of downsampling), or only parts of the scene being
captured (in case
of upsampling). Further, H.263 Annex Q allows the resampling of an individual
macroblock by
a factor of two (in each dimension), upward or downward. Again, the picture
size remains the
same. The size of a macroblock is fixed in H.263, and therefore does not need
to be signaled.
[7] Changes of picture size in predicted pictures became more mainstream in
modern video
coding. For example, VP9 allows reference picture resampling and change of
resolution for a
whole picture. Similarly, certain proposals made towards VVC (including, for
example, Hendry,
et. al, "On adaptive resolution change (ARC) for VVC", Joint Video Team
document JVET-
M0135-v1, Jan 9-19, 2019, incorporated herein in its entirety) allow for
resampling of whole
reference pictures to different¨higher or lower¨resolutions. In that document,
different
candidate resolutions are suggested to be coded in the sequence parameter set
and referred to by
per-picture syntax elements in the picture parameter set.
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Summary
[8] In an embodiment, there is provided a method of decoding an encoded
video bitstream
using at least one processor, the method including obtaining a coded video
sequence from the
encoded video bitstream; obtaining a first syntax element indicating a number
of a plurality of
layers included in the coded video sequence; obtaining a second syntax element
indicating
whether the plurality of layers included in the coded video sequence are all
independent layers;
based on the first syntax element indicating that the number of the plurality
of layers is greater
than one, and the second syntax element indicating that the plurality of
layers are not all the
independent layers, obtaining a third syntax element indicating an output
mode; determining the
output mode based on the third syntax element; determining one or more output
layers from
among the plurality of layers based on the determined output mode; and
outputting the one or
more output layers.
[9] In an embodiment, there is provided a device for decoding an encoded
video bitstream,
the device including at least one memory configured to store program code; and
at least one
processor configured to read the program code and operate as instructed by the
program code,
the program code including: first obtaining code configured to cause the at
least one processor to
obtain a coded video sequence from the encoded video bitstream; second
obtaining code
configured to cause the at least one processor to obtain a first syntax
element indicating a number
of a plurality of layers included in the coded video sequence; third obtaining
code configured to
cause the at least one processor to obtain a second syntax element indicating
whether the
plurality of layers included in the coded video sequence are all independent
layers; fourth
obtaining code configured to cause the at least one processor to, based on the
first syntax element
indicating that the number of the plurality of layers is greater than one, and
the second syntax
element indicating that the plurality of layers are not all the independent
layers, obtaining a third
syntax element indicating an output mode; first determining code configured to
cause the at least
one processor to determine the output mode based on the third syntax element;
second
determining code configured to cause the at least one processor to determine
one or more output
layers from among the plurality of layers based on the determined output mode;
and outputting
code configured to cause the at least one processor to output the one or more
output layers.
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[10] In an embodiment, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable
medium storing
instructions, the instructions including one or more instructions that, when
executed by one or
more processors of a device for decoding an encoded video bitstream, cause the
one or more
processors to: obtain a coded video sequence from the encoded video bitstream;
obtain a first
syntax element indicating a number of a plurality of layers included in the
coded video sequence;
obtain a second syntax element indicating whether the plurality of layers
included in the coded
video sequence are all independent layers; based on the first syntax element
indicating that the
number of the plurality of layers is greater than one, and the second syntax
element indicating
that the plurality of layers are not all the independent layers, obtaining a
third syntax element
indicating an output mode; determine the output mode based on the third syntax
element;
determine one or more output layers from among the plurality of layers based
on the determined
output mode; and output the one or more output layers.
Brief description of the drawings
[11] Further features, the nature, and various advantages of the disclosed
subject matter will
be more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying
drawings in
which:
[12] Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a simplified block diagram of a
communication
system in accordance with an embodiment.
[13] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a simplified block diagram of a
communication
system in accordance with an embodiment.
[14] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a simplified block diagram of a
decoder in
accordance with an embodiment.
[15] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a simplified block diagram of an
encoder in
accordance with an embodiment.
[16] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of options for signaling ARC/RPR
parameters in
accordance with an embodiment.
[17] FIGS. 6A-6B are schematic illustration of examples of syntax tables in
accordance with
an embodiment.
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[18] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of signaling layer dependency in VPS
in accordance
with an embodiment.
[19] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of signaling a list of
representation formats in VPS in
accordance with an embodiment.
[20] FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of signaling an index of
representation format in SPS in
accordance with an embodiment.
[21] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example process for decoding an encoded
video bitstream in
accordance with an embodiment.
[22] FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a computer system in accordance
with an
embodiment.
Detailed Description
[23] FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a communication system
(100) according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The system (100) may include at
least two terminals
(110-120) interconnected via a network (150). For unidirectional transmission
of data, a first
terminal (110) may code video data at a local location for transmission to the
other terminal
(120) via the network (150). The second terminal (120) may receive the coded
video data of the
other terminal from the network (150), decode the coded data and display the
recovered video
data. Unidirectional data transmission may be common in media serving
applications and the
like.
[24] FIG. 1 illustrates a second pair of terminals (130, 140) provided to
support bidirectional
transmission of coded video that may occur, for example, during
videoconferencing. For
bidirectional transmission of data, each terminal (130, 140) may code video
data captured at a
local location for transmission to the other terminal via the network (150).
Each terminal (130,
140) also may receive the coded video data transmitted by the other terminal,
may decode the
coded data and may display the recovered video data at a local display device.
[25] In FIG. 1, the terminals (110-140) may be illustrated as servers,
personal computers and
smart phones but the principles of the present disclosure may be not so
limited. Embodiments of
the present disclosure find application with laptop computers, tablet
computers, media players
and/or dedicated video conferencing equipment. The network (150) represents
any number of
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networks that convey coded video data among the terminals (110-140), including
for example
wireline and/or wireless communication networks. The communication network
(150) may
exchange data in circuit-switched and/or packet-switched charnels.
Representative networks
include telecommunications networks, local area networks, wide area networks
and/or the
Internet. For the purposes of the present discussion, the architecture and
topology of the network
(150) may be immaterial to the operation of the present disclosure unless
explained herein below.
[26] FIG. 2 illustrates, as an example for an application for the disclosed
subject matter, the
placement of a video encoder and decoder in a streaming environment. The
disclosed subject
matter can be equally applicable to other video enabled applications,
including, for example,
video conferencing, digital TV, storing of compressed video on digital media
including CD,
DVD, memory stick and the like, and so on.
[27] A streaming system may include a capture subsystem (213), that can
include a video
source (201), for example a digital camera, creating a for example
uncompressed video sample
stream (202). That sample stream (202), depicted as a bold line to emphasize a
high data volume
when compared to encoded video bitstreams, can be processed.by an encoder
(203) coupled to
the camera (201). The encoder (203) can include hardware, se,ware, or a
combination thereof
to enable or implement aspects of the disclosed subject matter as described in
more detail below.
The encoded video bitstream (204), depicted as a thin line to emphasize the
lower data volume
when compared to the sample stream, can be stored on a streaming server (205)
for future use.
One or more streaming clients (206, 208) can access the streaming server (205)
to retrieve copies
(207, 209) of the encoded video bitstream (204). A client (206) can include a
video decoder
(210) which decodes the incoming copy of the encoded video bitstream (207) and
creates an
outgoing video sample stream (211) that can be rendered on a display (212) or
other rendering
device (not depicted). In some streaming systems, the video bi-:streams (204,
207, 209) can be
encoded according to certain video coding/compression standards. Examples of
those standards
include ITU-T Recommendation H.265. Under development is a video coding
standard
informally known as Versatile Video Coding or VVC. The disclosed subject
matter may be used
in the context of VVC.
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[28] FIG. 3 may be a functional block diagram of a video decoder (210)
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[29] A receiver (310) may receive one or more codec video sequences to be
decoded by the
decoder (210); in the same or another embodiment, one coded video sequence at
a time, where
the decoding of each coded video sequence is independent from other coded
video sequences.
The coded video sequence may be received from a channel (312), which may be a
hardware/software link to a storage device which stores the encoded video
data. The receiver
(310) may receive the encoded video data with other data, for example, coded
audio data and/or
ancillary data streams, that may be forwarded to their respective using
entities (not depicted).
The receiver (310) may separate the coded video sequence from the other data.
To combat
network jitter, a buffer memory (315) may be coupled in between receiver (310)
and entropy
decoder / parser (320) ("parser" henceforth). When receiver (310) is receiving
data from a
store/forward device of sufficient bandwidth and controllability, or from an
isosychronous
network, the buffer (315) may not be needed, or can be small. For use on best
effort packet
networks such as the Internet, the buffer (315) may be required, can be
comparatively large and
can advantageously of adaptive size.
[30] The video decoder (210) may include a parser (320) to reconstruct symbols
(321) from
the entropy coded video sequence. Categories of those symbols include
information used to
manage operation of the decoder (210), and potentially information to control
a rendering device
such as a display (212) that is not an integral part of the decoder but can be
coupled to it, as was
shown in Fig, 3. The control information for the rendering device(s) may be in
the form of
Supplementary Enhancement Information (SEI messages) or Video Usability
Information (VUI)
parameter set fragments (not depicted). The parser (320) may parse / entropy-
decode the coded
video sequence received. The coding of the coded video sequer,ice can be in
accordance with a
video coding technology or standard, and can follow principles well known to a
person skilled in
the art, including variable length coding, Huffman coding, arithmetic coding
with or without
context sensitivity, and so forth. The parser (320) may extract fr'rom the
coded video sequence, a
set of subgroup parameters for at least one of the subgroups of 2ixels in the
video_ decoder, based
upon at least one parameter corresponding to the group. Subgroups can include
Groups of
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Pictures (GOPs), pictures, sub-pictures, tiles, slices, bricks, macroblocks,
Coding Tree Units
(CTUs) Coding Units (CUs), blocks, Transform Units (TUs), Prediction Units
(PUs) and so forth.
A tile may indicate a rectangular region of CU/CTUs within a particular tile
column and row in a
picture. A brick may indicate a rectangular region of CU/CTU rows within a
particular tile. A
slice may indicate one or more bricks of a picture, which are contained in an
NAL unit. A sub-
picture may indicate an rectangular region of one or more slices in a picture.
The entropy decoder
/ parser may also extract from the coded video sequence information such as
transform
coefficients, quantizer parameter values, motion vectors, and Sc; forth.
[31] The parser (320) may perform entropy decoding / parsing operation on the
video
sequence received from the buffer (315), so to create symbols (321).
[32] Reconstruction of the symbols (321) can involve multiple different units
depending on
the type of the coded video picture or parts thereof (such as: inter and intra
picture, inter and
intra block), and other factors. Which units are involved, and Low, can be
controlled by the
subgroup control information that was parsed from the coded video sequence by
the parser (320).
The flow of such subgroup control information between the parser (320) and the
multiple units
below is not depicted for clarity.
[33] Beyond the functional blocks already mentioned, decoder 210 can be
conceptually
subdivided into a number of functional units as described below. In a
practical implementation
operating under commercial constraints, many of these units interact closely
with each other and
can, at least partly, be integrated into each other. However, for the purpose
of describing the
disclosed subject matter, the conceptual subdivision into the functional units
below is appropriate.
[34] A first unit is the scaler! inverse transform unit (351). The scaler!
inverse transform unit
(351) receives quantized transform coefficient as well as control information,
including which
transform to use, block size, quantization factor, quantization scaling
matrices, etc. as symbol(s)
(321) from the parser (320). It can output blocks comprising sample values,
that can be input
into aggregator (355).
[35] In some cases, the output samples of the scaler! inverse transform (351)
can pertain to an
-intra coded block; that is: a block that is not using predictive information
from previously
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reconstructed pictures, but can use predictive information from previously
reconstructed parts of
the current picture. Such predictive information can be provided by an intra
picture prediction
unit (352). In some cases, the intra picture prediction unit (352) generates a
block of the same
size and shape of the block under reconstruction, using surrounding already
reconstructed
information fetched from the current (partly reconstructed) picture (358). The
aggregator (355),
in some cases, adds, on a per sample basis, the prediction information the
intra prediction unit
(352) has generated to the output sample information as provided by the scaler
/ inverse
transform unit (351).
[36] In other cases, the output samples of the scaler! inverse transform
unit (351) can pertain
to an inter coded, and potentially motion compensated block. In such a case, a
Motion
Compensation Prediction unit (353) can access reference picture memory (357)
to fetch samples
used for prediction. After motion compensating the fetched samples in
accordance with the
symbols (321) pertaining to the block, these samples can be added by the
aggregator (355) to the
output of the scaler! inverse transform unit (in this case called :the
residual samples or residual
signal) so to generate output sample information. The addresses within the
reference picture
memory form where the motion compensation unit fetches preeiction samples can
be controlled
by motion vectors, available to the motion compensation unit in the form of
symbols (321) that
can have, for example X, Y, and reference picture components. Motion
compensation also can
include interpolation of sample values as fetched from the reference picture
memory when sub-
sample exact motion vectors are in use, motion vector prediction mechanisms,
and so forth.
[37] The output samples of the aggregator (355) can be subject to various loop
filtering
techniques in the loop filter unit (356). Video compression technologies can
include in-loop
filter technologies that are controlled by parameters included in the coded
video bitstream and
made available to the loop filter unit (356) as symbols (321) from the parser
(320), but can also
be responsive to meta-information obtained during the decoding of previous (in
decoding order)
parts of the coded picture or coded video sequence, as well as responsive to
previously
reconstructed and loop-filtered sample values.
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[38] The output of the loop filter unit (356) can be a sample stream that can
be output to the
render device (212) as well as stored in the reference picture mmory for use
in future inter-
picture prediction.
[39] Certain coded pictures, once fully reconstructed, can be used as
reference pictures for
future prediction. Once a coded picture is fully reconstructed and the coded
picture has been
identified as a reference picture (by, for example, parser (320)), the current
reference picture
(358) can become part of the reference picture buffer (357), and a fresh
current picture memory
can be reallocated before commencing the reconstruction of the following coded
picture..
[40] The video decoder 210 may perform decoding operations according to a
predetermined
video compression technology that may be documented in a standard, such as ITU-
T Rec. H.265.
The coded video sequence may conform to a syntax specified ty the video
compression
technology or standard being used, in the sense that it adheres to the syntax
of the video
compression technology or standard, as specified in the video compression
technology document
or standard and specifically in the profiles document therein. Also necessary
for compliance can
be that the complexity of the coded video sequence is within beunds as defined
by the level of
the video compression technology or standard. In some cases, levels restrict
the maximum
picture size, maximum frame rate, maximum reconstruction sample rate (measured
in, for
example megasamples per second), maximum reference picture size, and so on.
Limits set by
levels can, in some cases, be further restricted through Hypothetical
Reference Decoder (BIRD)
specifications and metadata for HRD buffer management signaled in the coded
video sequence.
[41] In an embodiment, the receiver (310) may receive additional (redundant)
data with the
encoded video. The additional data may be included as part of he coded video
sequence(s). The
additional data may be used by the video decoder (210) to proprly decode the
data and/or to
more accurately reconstruct the original video data. Additionai data can be in
the form of,-for
example, temporal, spatial, or SNR enhancement layers, redunc:.)ant slices,
redundant pictures,
forward error correction codes, and so on.
[42] FIG. 4 may be a functional block diagram of a video encoder (203)
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
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[43] The encoder (203) may receive video samples from a video source (201)
(that is not part
of the encoder) that may capture video image(s) to be coded by the encoder
(203).
[44] The video source (201) may provide the source video sequence to be coded
by the
encoder (203) in the form of a digital video sample stream that can be of any
suitable bit depth
(for example: 8 bit, 10 bit, 12 bit, ...), any colorspace (for example, BT.601
Y CrCB, RGB, ...)
and any suitable sampling structure (for example Y CrCb 4:2:0, Y CrCb 4:4:4).
In a media
serving system, the video source (201) may be a storage device storing
previously prepared
video. In a videoconferencing system, the video source (203) may be a camera
that captures
local image information as a video sequence. Video data may be provided as a
plurality of
individual pictures that impart motion when viewed in sequence. The pictures
themselves may
be organized as a spatial array of pixels, wherein each pixel can comprise one
or more sample
depending on the sampling structure, color space, etc. in use. A. person
skilled in the art can
readily understand the relationship between pixels and samples. The
description below focusses
on samples.
[45] According to an embodiment, the encoder (203) may ccde and compress the
pictures of
the source video sequence into a coded video sequence (443) ii real time or
under any other
time constraints as required by the application. Enforcing appropriate coding
speed is one
function of Controller (450). Controller controls other functional units as
described below and is
functionally coupled to these units. The coupling is not depicted for clarity.
Parameters set by
controller can include rate control related parameters (picture skip,
quantizer, lambda value of
rate-distortion optimization techniques, ...), picture size, group of pictures
(GOP) layout,
maximum motion vector search range, and so forth. A person skilled in the art
can readily
identify other functions of controller (450) as they may pertain to video
encoder (203) optimized
for a certain system design.
[46] Some video encoders operate in what a person skilled iii the are
readily recognizes as a
"coding loop". As an oversimplified description, a coding loop can consist of
the encoding part
of an encoder (430) ("source coder" henceforth) (responsible for creating
symbols based on an
input picture to be coded, and a reference pi cture(s)), and a (local) decoder
(433) embedded in
the encoder (203) that reconstructs the symbols to create the sample data a
(remote) decoder also
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would create (as any compression between symbols and coded video bitstream is
lossless in the
video compression technologies considered in the disclosed subject matter).
That reconstructed
sample stream is input to the reference picture memory (434). As the decoding
of a symbol
stream leads to bit-exact results independent of decoder location (local or
remote), the reference
picture buffer content is also bit exact between local encoder and remote
encoder. In other
words, the prediction part of an encoder "sees" as reference picture samples
exactly the same
sample values as a decoder would "see" when using prediction during decoding.
This
fundamental principle of reference picture synchronicity (and resulting drift,
if synchronicity
cannot be maintained, for example because of channel errors) is well known to
a person skilled
in the art.
[47] The operation of the "local" decoder (433) can be the same as of a
"remote" decoder
(210), which has already been described in detail above in conj.mction with
FIG. 3. Briefly
referring also to FIG. 4, however, as symbols are available and en/decoding of
symbols to a
coded video sequence by entropy coder (445) and parser (320) can be lossless,
the entropy
decoding parts of decoder (210), including channel (312), recei-ier (310),
buffer (315), and parser
(320) may not be fully implemented in local decoder (433).
[48] An observation that can be made at this point is that any decoder
technology except the
parsing/entropy decoding that is present in a decoder also necessarily needs
to be present, in
substantially identical functional form, in a corresponding encoder. For this
reason, the disclosed
subject matter focusses on decoder operation. The description of encoder
technologies can be
abbreviated as they are the inverse of the comprehensively described decoder
technologies. Only
in certain areas a more detail description is required and provided below.
[49] As part of its operation, the source coder (430) may perform motion
compensated
predictive coding, which codes an input frame predictively with. reference to
one or more
previously-coded frames from the video sequence that were designated as
"reference frames." In
this manner, the coding engine (432) codes differences between pixel blocks of
an input frame
and pixel blocks of reference frame(s) that may be selected as prediction
reference(s) to the input
frame.
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[50] The local video decoder (433) may decode coded video data of frames that
may be
designated as reference frames, based on symbols created by th2 source coder
(430). Operations
of the coding engine (432) may advantageously be lossy processes. When the
coded video data
may be decoded at a video decoder (not shown in FIG. 4), the reconstructed
video sequence
typically may be a replica of the source video sequence with some errors. The
local video
decoder (433) replicates decoding processes that may be performed by the video
decoder on
reference frames and may cause reconstructed reference frames to be stored in
the reference
picture cache (434). In this manner, the encoder (203) may store copies of
reconstructed
reference frames locally that have common content as the reconstructed
reference frames that
will be obtained by a far-end video decoder (absent transmission errors).
[51] The predictor (435) may perform prediction searches for the coding engine
(432). That is,
for a new frame to be coded, the predictor (435) may search the reference
picture memory (434)
for sample data (as candidate reference pixel blocks) or certain metadata such
as reference
picture motion vectors, block shapes, and so on, that may serve as an
appropriate prediction
reference for the new pictures. The predictor (435) may operate on a sample
block-by-pixel
block basis to find appropriate prediction references. In some cases, as
determined by search
results obtained by the predictor (435), an input picture may have prediction
references drawn
from multiple reference pictures stored in the reference picture memory (434).
[52] The controller (450) may manage coding operations of the video coder
(430), including,
for example, setting of parameters and subgroup parameters used for encoding
the video data.
[53] Output of all aforementioned functional units may be subjected to entropy
coding in the
entropy coder (445). The entropy coder translates the symbols as generated by
the various
functional units into a coded video sequence, by loss-less compressing the
symbols according to
technologies known to a person skilled in the art as, for example Huffman
coding, variable
length coding, arithmetic coding, and so forth.
[54] The transmitter (440) may buffer the coded video sequence(s) as created
by the entropy
coder (445) to prepare it for transmission via a communication channel (460),
which may be a
hardware/software link to a storage device which would store the encoded video
data. The
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transmitter (440) may merge coded video data from the video coder (430) with
other data to be
transmitted, for example, coded audio data and/or ancillary data streams
(sources not shown).
[55] The controller (450) may manage operation of the encoder (203). During
coding, the
controller (450) may assign to each coded picture a certain coded picture
type, which may affect
the coding techniques that may be applied to the respective picture. For
example, pictures often
may be assigned as one of the following frame types:
[56] An Intra Picture (I picture) may be one that may be coded and decoded
without using any
other frame in the sequence as a source of prediction. Some video codecs allow
for different
types of Intra pictures, including, for example Independent Decoder Refresh
Pictures. A person
skilled in the art is aware of those variants of I pictures and their
respective applications and
features.
[57] A Predictive picture (P picture) may be one that may be coded and decoded
using intra
prediction or inter prediction using at most one motion vector and reference
index to predict the
sample values of each block.
[58] A Bi-directionally Predictive Picture (B Picture) may be one that may be
coded and
decoded using intra prediction or inter prediction using at most two motion
vectors and reference
indices to predict the sample values of each block. Similarly, multiple-
predictive pictures can
use more than two reference pictures and associated metadata for the
reconstruction of a single
block.
[59] Source pictures commonly may be subdivided spatially into a plurality
of sample blocks
(for example, blocks of 4x4, 8x8, 4x8, or 16x16 samples each) and coded on a
block-by- block
basis. Blocks may be coded predictively with reference to other (already
coded) blocks as
determined by the coding assignment applied to the blocks' resJective
pictures. For example,
blocks of I pictures may be coded non-predictively or they may be coded
predictively with
reference to already coded blocks of the same picture (spatial prediction or
intra prediction).
Pixel blocks of P pictures may be coded non-predictively, via spatial
prediction or via temporal
prediction with reference to one previously coded reference pictures. Blocks
of B pictures may
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be coded non-predictively, via spatial prediction or via temporal prediction
with reference to one
or two previously coded reference pictures.
[60] The video coder (203) may perform coding operations according to a
predetermined
video coding technology or standard, such as ITU-T Rec. H.265. In its
operation, the video
coder (203) may perform various compression operations, including predictive
coding operations
that exploit temporal and spatial redundancies in the input video sequence.
The coded video data,
therefore, may conform to a syntax specified by the video coding technology or
standard being
used.
[61] In an embodiment, the transmitter (440) may transmit additional data with
the encoded
video. The video coder (430) may include such data as part of ':he coded video
sequence.
Additional data may comprise temporal/spatial/SNR enhancement layers, other
forms of
redundant data such as redundant pictures and slices, Supplementary
Enhancement Information
(SET) messages, Visual Usability Information (VUI) parameter set fragments,
and so on.
[62] Recently, compressed domain aggregation or extraction of multiple
semantically
independent picture parts into a single video picture has gained some
attention. In particular, in
the context of, for example, 360 coding or certain surveillance applications,
multiple
semantically independent source pictures (for examples the six cube surface of
a cube-projected
360 scene, or individual camera inputs in case of a multi-camera surveillance
setup) may require
separate adaptive resolution settings to cope with different per-scene
activity at a given point in
time. In other words, encoders, at a given point in time, may choose to use
different resampling
factors for different semantically independent pictures that make up the whole
360 or
surveillance scene. When combined into a single picture, that, in turn,
requires that reference
picture resampling is performed, and adaptive resolution coding signaling is
available, for parts
of a coded picture.
[63] Below, a few terms will be introduced that will be referred to in the
remainder of this
description.
[64] Sub-Picture may refer to a, in some cases, rectangular a:rangement of
samples, blocks,
macroblocks, coding units, or similar entities that are semantically grouped,
and that may be
=
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independently coded in changed resolution. One or more sub-pictures may form a
picture. One
or more coded sub-pictures may form a coded picture. One or more sub-pictures
may be
assembled into a picture, and one or more sub pictures may be extracted from a
picture. In
certain environments, one or more coded sub-pictures may be assembled in the
compressed
domain without transcoding to the sample level into a coded picture, and in
the same or other
cases, one or more coded sub-pictures may be extracted from a coded picture in
the compressed
domain.
[65] Reference Picture Resampling (RPR) or Adaptive Reso1ution Change (ARC)
may refer to
mechanisms that allow the change of resolution of a picture or sub-picture
within a coded video
sequence, by the means of, for example, reference picture resampling. RPR/ARC
parameters
henceforth refer to the control information required to perform adaptive
resolution change, that
may include, for example, filter parameters, scaling factors, resolutions of
output and/or
reference pictures, various control flags, and so forth.
[66] In embodiments coding and decoding may be performed on a single,
semantically
independent coded video picture. Before describing the implication of
coding/decoding of
multiple sub pictures with independent RPR/ARC parameters and its implied
additional
complexity, options for signaling RPR/ARC parameters shall be described.
[67] Referring to FIG. 5, shown are several embodiments for signaling
RPR/ARC parameters.
As noted with each of the embodiments, they may have certain advantages and
certain
disadvantages from a coding efficiency, complexity, and architecture
viewpoint. A video coding
standard or technology may choose one or more of these embodiments, or options
known from
related art, for signaling RPR/ARC parameters. The embodiments may not be
mutually
exclusive, and conceivably may be interchanged based on application needs,
standards
technology involved, or encoder's choice.
[68] Classes of RPR/ARC parameters may include:
[69] -up/downsample factors, separate or combined in X and Y dimension
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[70] -up/downsample factors, with an addition of a temporal dimension,
indicating constant
speed zoom in/out for a given number of pictures
[71] -Either of the above two may involve the coding of one or more presumably
short syntax
elements that may point into a table containing the factor(s).
[72] -resolution, in X or Y dimension, in units of samples, blocks,
macroblocks, coding units
(CUs), or any other suitable granularity, of the input picture, output
picture, reference picture,
coded picture, combined or separately. If there is more than one resolution
(such as, for
example, one for input picture, one for reference picture) then, in certain
cases, one set of values
may be inferred to from another set of values. Such could be gated, for
example, by the use of
flags. For a more detailed example, see below.
[73] ¨"warping" coordinates akin those used in H.263 Anne:: P, again in a
suitable granularity
as described above. H.263 Annex P defines one efficient way t) code such
warping coordinates,
but other, potentially more efficient ways could conceivably also be devised.
For example, the
variable length reversible, "Huffman"-style coding of warping coordinates of
Annex P could be
replaced by a suitable length binary coding, where the length of the binary
code word could, for
example, be derived from a maximum picture size, possibly multiplied by a
certain factor and
offset by a certain value, so to allow for "warping" outside of the maximum
picture size's
=
boundaries.
[74] -up or downsample filter parameters. In embodiments, there may be only a
single filter
for up and/or downsampling. However, in embodiments, it can be desirable to
allow more
flexibility in filter design, and that may require to signaling of filter
parameters. Such
parameters may be selected through an index in a list of possible filter
designs, the filter may be
fully specified (for example through a list of filter coefficients, using
suitable entropy coding
techniques), the filter may be implicitly selected through up/downsample
ratios according which
in turn are signaled according to any of the mechanisms mentioied above, and
so forth.
[75] Henceforth, the description assumes the coding of a finite set of
up/downsample factors
(the same factor to be used in both X and Y dimension), indicated through a
codeword. That
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codeword may be variable length coded, for example using the Ext-Golomb code
common for
certain syntax elements in video coding specifications such as H.264 and
H.265. One suitable
mapping of values to up/downsample factors can, for example, be according to
Table 1:
TABLE 1.
Codeword Ext-Golomb Code Original / Target
resolution
0 1 1 / 1
1 010 1 / 1.5 (upscale by 50%)
2 011 1.5 / 1 (downscale by 50
A)
3 00100 1 / 2 (upscale by 100%)
4 00101 2 / 1 (downscale by 100%)
[76] Many similar mappings could be devised according to the needs of an
application and the
capabilities of the up and downscale mechanisms available in a video
compression technology or
standard. The table could be extended to more values. Values may also be
represented by
entropy coding mechanisms other than Ext-Golomb codes, for example using
binary coding.
That may have certain advantages when the resampling factors were of interest
outside the video
processing engines (encoder and decoder foremost) themselves, for example by
MANEs. It
should be noted that, for situations where no resolution change is required,
an Ext-Golomb code
can be chosen that is short; in the table above, only a single bit. That can
have a coding
efficiency advantage over using binary codes for the most common case.
[77] The number of entries in the table, as well as .their semantics, may
be fully or partially
configurable. For example, the basic outline of the table may be conveyed in a
"high" parameter
set such as a sequence or decoder parameter set. In embodiments, one or more
such tables may
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be defined in a video coding technology or standard, and may be selected
through for example a
decoder or sequence parameter set.
[78] Below is described how an upsample/downsample factor (ARC information),
coded as
described above, may be included in a video coding technology or standard
syntax. Similar
considerations may apply to one, or a few, codewor4 controlling up/downsample
filters. See
below for a discussion when comparatively large amounts of data are required
for a filter or other
data structures.
[79] As shown in FIG. 5, H.263 Annex P includes the ARC information (502) in
the form of
four warping coordinates into the picture header (501), specifically in the
H.263 PLUSPTYPE
(503) header extension; This can be a sensible design choice when a) there is
a picture header
available, and b) frequent changes of the ARC information are expected.
However, the overhead
when using H.263-style signaling can be quite high, and scaling factors may
not pertain among
picture boundaries as picture header can be of transient nature.
[80] In the same or another embodiment, the signaling of ARC parameters can
follow a
detailed example as outlined in FIGS. 6A-6B. FIGS. 6A-6B depict syntax
diagrams in a type of
representation using a notation which roughly follows C-style programming, as
for example used
in video coding standards since at least 1993. Lines in boldface indicate
syntax elements present
in the bitstream, lines without boldface often indicate control flow or the
setting of variables.
[81] As shown in FIG. 6A, a tile group header (601) as an exemplary syntax
structure of a
header applicable to a (possibly rectangular) part of a picture can
conditionally contain, a
variable length, Exp-Golomb coded syntax element dec_pic_size_idx (602)
(depicted in
boldface). The presence of this syntax element in the tile group header can be
gated on the use
of adaptive resolution (603)¨here, the value of a flag not depicted in
boldface, which means that
flag is present in the bitstream at the point where it occurs in the syntax
diagram. Whether or not
adaptive resolution is in use for this picture or parts thereof can. be
signaled in any high level
syntax structure inside or outside the bitstream. In the example shown, it is
signaled in the
=
sequence parameter set as outlined below.
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[82] Referring to FIG. 6B, shown is also an excerpt of a sequence parameter
set (610). The
first syntax element shown is adaptive_pic_resolution_change_flag (611). When
true, that flag
can indicate the use of adaptive resolution which, in turn may require certain
control information.
In the example, such control information is conditionally present based on the
value of the flag
based on the if() statement in the parameter set (612) and the tile group
header (601).
[83] When adaptive resolution is in use, in this example, coded is an
output resolution in units
of samples (613). The numeral 613 refers to both
output_pic_Width_in_luma_samples and
output_pic_height_in_luma_samples, which together can define the resolution of
the output
picture. Elsewhere in a video coding technology or standard, certain
restrictions to either value
can be defined. For example, a level definition may limit the n-imber of total
output samples,
which could be the product of the value of those two syntax elements. Also,
certain video
coding technologies or standards, or external technologies or standards such
as, for example,
system standards, may limit the numbering range (for example, one or both
dimensions must be
divisible by a power of 2 number), or the aspect ratio (for example, the width
and height must be
in a relation such as 4:3 or 16:9). Such restrictions may be introduced to
facilitate hardware
implementations or for other reasons, and are well known in the art.
[84] In certain applications, it can be advisable that the encoder
instructs the decoder to use a
certain reference picture size rather than implicitly assume that size to be
the output picture size.
In this example, the syntax element reference_pic_size_present_flag (614)
gates the conditional
presence of reference picture dimensions (615) (again, the numeral refers to
both width and
height).
[85] Finally, shown is a table of possible decoding picture width and heights.
Such a table can
be expressed, for example, by a table indication
(num_dec_pic_size_in_luma_samples_minusl)
(616). The "minusl" can refer to the interpretation of the value of that
syntax element. For
example, if the coded value is zero, one table entry is present. Tf the value
is five, six table
entries are present. For each "line" in the table, decoded picture width and
height are then
included in the syntax (617).
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[86] The table entries presented (617) can be indexed using the syntax element
dec_pic_size_idx (602) in the tile group header, thereby allowing different
decoded sizes¨in
effect, zoom factors¨per tile group.
[87] Certain video coding technologies or standards, for example VP9, support
spatial
scalability by implementing certain forms of reference picture resampling
(signaled quite
differently from the disclosed subject matter) in conjunction with temporal
scalability, so to
enable spatial scalability. In particular, certain reference pictures may be
upsampled using ARC-
style technologies to a higher resolution to form the base of a spatial
enhancement layer. Those
upsampled pictures could be refined, using normal prediction mechanisms at the
high resolution,
so to add detail.
[88] Embodiments discussed herein can be used in such an eavironment. In
certain cases, in
the same or another embodiment, a value in the NAL unit head,N, for example
the Temporal ID
field, can be used to indicate not only the temporal but also the spatial
layer. Doing so may have
certain advantages for certain system designs; for example, existing Selected
Forwarding Units
(SFU) created and optimized for temporal layer selected forwarding based on
the NAL unit
header Temporal ID value can be used without modification, fel- scalable
environments. In order
to enable that, there may be a requirement for a mapping between the coded
picture size and the
temporal layer is indicated by the temporal ID field in the NAL unit header.
[89] With Reference Picture Resampling (RPR) or Adaptive Resolution Change
(ARC), the
additional burden for scalability support may be a minor modification of the
high-level syntax
(HLS). In embodiments, the inter-layer prediction is employed in a scalable
system to improve
the coding efficiency of the enhancement layers. In addition to the spatial
and temporal motion-
compensated predictions that are available in a single-layer codec, the inter-
layer prediction may
use the resampled video data of the reconstructed reference picture from a
reference layer to
predict the current enhancement layer. Then, the resampling Focess for inter-
layer prediction
may be performed at the block-level, by modifying the existing interpolation
process for motion
compensation. In embodiments, no additional resampling process may be needed
to support
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scalability. Embodiments relate to high-level syntax elements to support
spatial/quality
scalability using the RPR.
[90] In the same or another embodiment, referring to FIG. 7, the syntax
element
vps_max_layers_minusl (703) plus 1 may specify the maximum allowed number of
layers in
each CVS referring to the VPS (701). vps_all_independent_layers_flag (704)
equal to 1 may
specify that all layers in the CVS are independently coded without using inter-
layer prediction.
vps_all_independent_layers_flag (704) equal to 0 may specify that one or more
of the layers in
the CVS may use inter-layer prediction. When not present, the value of
vps_all_independent_layers_flag may be inferred to be equal to 1. When
vps_all_independent_layers_flag is equal to 1, the value of
vps_independent_layer_flag[ ii (706)
may be inferred to be equal to 1. When vps_all_independent_layers_flag is
equal to 0, the value
of vps_independent_layer_flag[ 0] may be inferred to be equal to 1.
[91] Referring to FIG. 7, vps_independent_layer_flag[ i (706) equal to 1 may
specify that the -
layer with index i does not use inter-layer prediction.
vps_indei:endent_layer_flag[ i] equal to 0
may specify that the layer with index i may use inter-layer prediction and
vps_layer_dependency_flag[ i] is present in VPS. vps_direct_dependency_flag[ i
][ j ] (707)
equal to 0 may specify that the layer with index j is not a direct reference
layer for the layer with
index i. vps_direct_dependency_flag [ i ][ j] equal to 1 may specify that the
layer with index j is
a direct reference layer for the layer with index i. When
vps_direct_dependency_flag[ i ][ j ] is
not present for i and j in the range of 0 to vps_max_layers_minusl, inclusive,
it may be inferred
to be equal to 0. The variable DirectDependentLayerIdx[ i ][ j ], specifying
the j-th direct
dependent layer of the i-th layer, may be derived as follows:
for( i = 1; i < vps_max_layers_minusl; ¨)
if( !vps_independent_layer_flag[ i ] )
for( j = k = 0; j >= 0; j¨ ¨ )
if( vps_direct_dependency_flag[ i ][ j ] )
DirectDependentLayerIdx[ i ][ k-;+ ] = j
[92] The variable GeneralLayerIdx[ i ], specifying the layer =ndex of the
layer with
nuh_layer_id equal to vps_layer_id[ i ], may be derived as follows:
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for( i = 0; i <= vps_max_layers_minusl; i++)
GeneralLayerIdx[ vps_layer_id[ i ] ] = i
[93] In the same or another embodiment, referring to FIG. 7, when
vps_max_layers_minusl is
greater than zero and the value of vps_all_independent_layersflag is equal to
zero,
VP s_output_layers_mode and vps_output_layer_flags[ i ] are signalled.
vps_output_layers_mode
(708) equal to 0 may specify that only the highest layer is output.
vps_output_layer_mode equal
to 1 may specify that all layers are output. vps_output_layer_mode equal to 2
may specify that
the layers that are output are the layers with vps_output_layer_flag[ i] (709)
equal to 1. The
value of vps_output_layers_mode may be in the range of 0 to 2, inclusive. The
value 3 of
vps_output_layer_mode is reserved for future use by ITU-T I ISO/IEC. When not
present, the
value of vps_output_layers_mode may be inferred to be equal to 1.
vps_output_layer_flag[ i
equal to 1 may specify that the i-th layer is output. vps_output_:ayerflag[ i
] equal to 0 may
specify that the i-th layer is not output.The list OutputLayerFlag[ i ], for
which the value 1 may
specify that the i-th layer is output and the value 0 specified the:.: the i-
th layer is not output, may
be derived as follows:
OutputLayerFlag[ vps_max_layers_minusl ] = 1
for( i = 0; i < vps_max_layers_minusl; i++)
if( vps_output_layer_mode = = 0)
OutputLayerFlag[ i] = 0
else if( vps_output_layer_mode = = 1)
OutputLayerFlag[ i ] = 1
else if( vps_output_layer_mode = = 2)
OutputLayerFlag[ i ] = vps_output_layer_flag[ i
[94] In the same or another embodiment, referring to FIG. 8,
vps_num_rep_formats_minusl
plus 1 may specify the number of the following rep_format( ) syntax structures
in the VPS. The
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value of vps_num_rep_formats_minusl may be in the range of 0 to 255,
inclusive.
vps_rep_format_idx[ i ] may specify the index, into the list of rw_format( )
syntax structures in
the VPS, of the rep_format( ) syntax structure that applies to the layer with
GeneralLayerIdx[ nuh_layer_id ] equal to i. The value of vps_rep_format_idx[ i
] may be in the
range of 0 to vps_num_replormats_minusl, inclusive. The number of bits used
for the
representation of vps_rep_format_idx[ i ] is Ceil( Log2(
vps_num_rep_formats_minusl + 1 ) ).
pic_width_max_vps_in_luma_samples, pic_height_max_vps_in_luma_samples,
chroma_format_vps_idc, separate_colour_plane_vps_flag,
bit_depth_vps_luma_minus8 and
bit_depth_vps_chroma_minus8 are used for inference of the va:ues of the SPS
syntax elements
pic_width_max_in_luma_samples, pic_height_max_in_luma_samples,
chroma_format_idc,
separate_colour_plane_flag, bit_depth_luma_minus8 and bit_dyth_chroma_minus8,
respectively, for each SPS that refers to the VPS.
pic_width_max_vps_in_luma_samples may not
be equal to 0 and may be an integer multiple of max(8, MinCbSizeY).
pic_height_max_vps_in_luma_samples may not be equal to 0 and may be an integer
multiple of
max(8, MinCbSizeY). The value of chroma_format_vps_idc may be in the range of
0 to 3,
inclusive. bit_depth_vps_luma_minus8 may be in the range of J to 8, inclusive.
bit_depth_vps_chroma_minus8 may be in the range of 0 to 8, inclusive.
[95] subpics_vps_present_flag equal to 1 indicates that subpicture
parameters are present in
the present in the VPS RBSP syntax. subpics_present_flag equal to 0 indicates
that subpicture
parameters are not present in the present in the VPS RBSP syntax.
max_subpics_vps_minusl,
subpic_grid_vps_col_width_minus1 subpic_grid_vps_row_height_minus1,
subpic_grid_vps_row_height_minus1, subpic_grid_vps_idx[ i :[j ],
subpic_treated_as_pic_vps_flag[ i ] and
loop_filter_across_subpic_enabled_vps_flag[ i ] are
used for inference of the values of the SPS syntax elements
max_subpics_minusl,
subpic_grid_col_width_minusl subpic_grid_row_height_minusl,
subpic_grid_row_height_minusl, subpic_grid_idx[ i ][j ],
subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[ i ] and
loop_filter_across_subpic_enabled_flag[ ii respectively, for each SPS that
refers to the VPS.
[96] In the same or another embodiment, referring to FIG. 9,
use_rep_format_flag equal to 1
may specify that sps_rep_format_idx is present. use_rep_formatflag equal to 0
may specify that
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sps_rep_format_idx is not present, and pic_width_max_in Jurna_samples,
pic_height_max_in_luma_samples, chroma_format_idc, separate_colour_plane_flag,
bit_depth_luma_minus8, bit_depth_chroma_minus8, max_subpics_minus1,
subpic_grid_col_width_minus1 subpic_grid_row_height_minusl,
subpic_grid_row_height_minusl, subpic_grid_idx[ i ][j ],
subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[ i ] and
loop_filter_across_subpic_enabled_flag[ i ] are present in the SPS.
sps_rep_format_idx may
specify that the sps_rep_format_idx-th rep_format( ) syntax structures in the
referenced NIPS
applies to the layers that refer to this SPS. When present,
pic_width_max_in_luma_samples,
pic_height_max_in_luma_samples, chroma_format_idc, separate_colour_plane_flag,
bit_depth_luma_minus8, bit_depth_chroma_minus8, max_subpics_minus1,
subpic_grid_col_width_minusl subpic_grid_row_height_minusl,
subpic_grid_row_height_minusl, subpic_grid_idx[ i ][j ],
subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[ i ] and
loop_filter_across_subpic_enabled_flag[ i ] are inferred to be equal to the
values of
pic_width_max_vps_in_luma_samples, pic_height_max_vps_in_luma_samples,
chroma_format_vps_idc, separate_colour_plane_vps_flag,
bit_depth_vps_luma_minus8,
bit_depth_vps_chroma_minus8, max_subpics_vps_minusl,
subpic_grid_vps_col_width_minusl
subpic_grid_vps_row_height_minus1, subpic_grid_vps_row_height_minusl,
subpic_grid_vps_idx[ i ][ j ], subpic_treated_as_pic_vps_flag[ i ] and
loop_filter_across_subpic_enabled_vps_flag[ i] in the sps_rep_format_idx-th
rep_format( )
syntax structures in the referenced VPS. subpics_present_flag equal to 1
indicates that subpicture
parameters are present in the present in the SPS RBSP syntax.
subpics_present_flag equal to 0
indicates that subpicture parameters are not present in the present in the SPS
RBSP syntax.
max_subpics_minus1 plus 1 may specify the maximum number of subpictures that
may be
present in the CVS. max_subpics_minusl may be in the range of 0 to 254.
subpic_grid_col_width_minusl plus 1 may specify the width of each element of
the subpicture
identifier grid in units of 4 samples. The length of the syntax element is
Ceil( Log2( pic_width_max_in_luma_samples / 4) ) bits.
[97] The variable NumSubPicGridCols may be derived as fellows:
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NumSubPicGridCols = (
pic_width_max_in_luma_samples + subpic_grid_col_width_minusl * 4 + 3 ) /
( subpic_grid_col_width_minusl * 4 + 4)
[98] subpic_grid_row_height_minusl plus 1 may specify the height of each
element of the
subpicture identifier grid in units of 4 samples. The length of the syntax
element is
Ceil( Log2( pic_height_max_in_luma_samples / 4) ) bits.
[99] The variable NumSubPicGridRows may be derived as follows:
NumSubPicGridRows = (
. pi c_height_max_in_luma_samples + subpic_grid_row_height_minusl * 4 + 3 )
/(
subpic_grid_row_height_minusl * 4 + 4)
[100] subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ] may specify the subpicture index of the grid
position (i, j). The
length of the syntax element is Ceil( Log2( max_subpics_minusl + 1 ) ) bits.
[101] The variables SubPicTop[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j]],
SubPicLeft[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ] ], SubPicWidth[ subpic_grid_idx [ i ][
j]],
SubPicHeight[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ] ], and NumSubPics may be derived as
follows:
NumSubPics = 0
for( i = 0; i. <NumSubPicGridRows; i++) {
for( j = 0;j < NumSubPicGridCols; j++ ) {
if ( i = = 0)
SubPicTop[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ] ] = 0
else if( subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ] != subpic_grid_idx[ i ¨ 1 ][ j ] ) {
SubPicTop[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ] ] =
SubPicHeight[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ¨ 1][ j ] ] =
i ¨ SubPicTop[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ¨ 1 ][ j ] ]
if ( j = = 0)
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SubPicLeft[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ] ] = 0
else if (subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ] != subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ¨ 1])
SubPicLeft[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ] ] =j
SubPicWidth[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ] ] =
j ¨ SubPicLeft[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ¨ 1]]
if( i = = NumSubPicGridRows ¨ 1)
SubPicHeight[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j J] =
i ¨ SubPicTop[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ¨ 1 ][ j ] ] + 1
if (j = = NumSubPicGridRows ¨ 1)
SubPicWidth[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j J] =
j ¨ SubPicLeft[ subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ¨ 1 ] ] + 1
if( subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ] > NumSubPics)
NumSubPics = subpic_grid_idx[ i ][ j ]
[102] subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[ ii equal to 1 may specify that the i-th
subpicture of each
coded picture in the CVS is treated as a picture in the decoding process
excluding in-loop
filtering operations. subpic_treated_as_pic_fiag[ i ] equal to 0 may specify
that the i-th
subpicture of each coded picture in the CVS is not treated as a ?icture in the
decoding process
excluding in-loop filtering operations. When not present, the value of
subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[ i ] may be inferred to be equal to C.
[103] loop_filter_across_subpic_enabled_flag[ i ] equal to 1 may specify that
in-loop filtering
operations may be performed across the boundaries of the i-th subpicture in
each coded picture
in the CVS. loop_filter_across_subpic_enabledflag[ i ] equal '.o 0 may specify
that in-loop
filtering operations are not performed across the boundaries of ::he i-th
subpicture in each coded
picture in the CVS. When not present, the value of
loop_filter_across_subpic_enabled_pic_flag[ i ] may be inferred to be equal to
1.
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[104] FIG. 10 is a flowchart is an example process 1000 for decoding an
encoded video
bitstream. In some implementations, one or more process blocks of FIG. 10 may
be performed
by decoder 210. In some implementations, one or more process blocks of FIG. 10
may be
performed by another device or a group of devices separate from or including
decoder 210, such
as encoder 203.
[105] As shown in FIG. 10, process 1000 may include obtaining a coded video
sequence from
the encoded video bitstream (block 1001).
[106] As further shown in FIG. 10, process 1000 may include obtaining a first
syntax element
indicating a number of a plurality of layers included in the coded video
sequence and a second
syntax element indicating whether the plurality of layers included in the
coded video sequence
are all independent layers(block 1002).
[107] As further shown in FIG. 10, process 1000 may include determining, based
on the first
syntax element, whether a number of layers included in the CVS is greater than
one (block 1003).
[108] As further shown in FIG. 10, process 1000 may include, based on the
first syntax
element indicating that the number of layers included in the CVS is not
greater than one (NO at
block 1003), process 1000 may proceed to block 1004, at which the one layer is
determined as
the output layer, and then to block 1010, at which the output layer is output.
[109] As further shown in FIG. 10, based on the first syntax element
indicating that the number
of layers included in the CVS is greater than one (YES at block 1003), process
1000 may
proceed to block 1005.
[110] As further shown in FIG. 10, process 1000 may include determining, based
on the second
syntax element, whether the plurality of layers included in the coded video
sequence are all
independent layers (block 1005).
[111] As further shown in FIG. 10, process 1000 may includ, based on the
second syntax
element indicating that the plurality of layers included in the ccded video
sequence are all
independent layers (YES at block 1005), process 1000 may prcceed to block
1006, at which all
of the layers are determined as output layers, and then to block 1010, at
which the output layers
are output.
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[112] As further shown in FIG. 10, based on the second syntax element
indicating that the
plurality of layers included in the coded video sequence are not all
independent layers(NO at
block 1003), process 1000 may proceed to block 1007.
[113] As further shown in FIG. 10, process 1000 may include obtaining a third
syntax element
indicating an output mode (block 1007).
[114] As further shown in FIG. 10, process 1000 may include, determining the
output mode
based on the third syntax element (block 1008).
[115] As further shown in FIG. 10, process 1000 may include .determining one
or more output
layers from among the plurality of layers based on the determined output mode
(block 1009).
[116] As further shown in FIG. 10, process 1000 may include outputting the one
or more output
layers (block 1010).
[117] In an embodiment, based on the third syntax element indicating that the
output mode is a
first mode, the one or more output layers may include only a highest layer
from among the
plurality of layers.
[118] In an embodiment, based on the third syntax element indicating that the
output mode is a
second mode, the one or more output layers may include the plurality of
layers.
[119] In an embodiment, process 1000 may further include obtaining a fourth
syntax element
indicating that a corresponding layer of the plurality of layers is to be
output, wherein based on
the third syntax element indicating that the output mode is a third mode, the
one or more output
layers may include the corresponding layer.
[120] In an embodiment, the first syntax element, the second syntax element,
and the third
syntax element may be signaled in a video parameter set (VPS.
[121] In an embodiment, the VPS may further include a fifth syntax element
indicating a
number of a plurality of picture formats signaled in the VPS, and a sixth
syntax element
indicating an index of a picture format from among the plurality of picture
formats to be applied
to a layer from among the plurality of layers.
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[122] In an embodiment, the VPS may further include a seventh syntax element
indicating
whether subpicture parameters are signaled in the VPS.
[123] In an embodiment, a sequence parameter set (SPS) referring to the VPS
may include an
eighth syntax element indicating that the SPS includes a ninth syntax element
indicating an index
of a picture format from among a plurality of picture formats signaled in the
VPS to be applied to
a layer from among the plurality of layers.
[124] In an embodiment, the SPS may further include a sixth syntax element
indicating whether
subpicture parameters are signaled in the SPS.
[125] Although FIG. 10 shows example blocks of process 1000, in some
implementations,
process 1000 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or
differently
arranged blocks than those depicted in FIG. 10. Additionally, cr
alternatively, two or more of
the blocks of process 1000 may be performed in parallel.
[126] Further, the proposed methods may be implemented by processing circuitry
(e.g., one or
more processors or one or more integrated circuits). In one example, the one
or more processors
execute a program that is stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium
to perform one or
more of the proposed methods.
[127] The techniques described above can be implemented as computer software
using
computer-readable instructions and physically stored in one or more computer-
readable media.
For example, FIG. 11 shows a computer system 1100 suitable for implementing
certain
embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.
[128] The computer software can be coded using any suitable machine code or
computer
language, that may be subject to assembly, compilation, linking, or like
mechanisms to create
code comprising instructions that can be executed directly, or trough
interpretation, micro-code
execution, and the like, by computer central processing units (CPUs), Graphics
Processing Units
(GPUs), and the like.
[129] The instructions can be executed on various types of computers or
components thereof,
including, for example, personal computers, tablet computers, servers,
smartphones, gaming
devices, interne of things devices, and the like.
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[130] The components shown in FIG. 11 for computer system 1100 are exemplary
in nature
and are not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or
functionality of the
computer software implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. Neither
should the
configuration of components be interpreted as having any dependency or
requirement relating to
any one or combination of components illustrated in the exemplary embodiment
of a computer
system 1100.
[131] Computer system 1100 may include certain human interface input devices.
Such a
human interface input device may be responsive to input by one or more human
users through,
for example, tactile input (such as: keystrokes, swipes, data glove
movements), audio input (such
as: voice, clapping), visual input (such as: gestures), olfactory input (not
depicted). The human
interface devices can also be used to capture certain media not necessarily
directly related to
conscious input by a human, such as audio (such as: speech, music, ambient
sound), images
(such as: scanned images, photographic images obtain from a snll image
camera), video (such as
two-dimensional video, three-dimensional video including stereoscopic video).
[132] Input human interface devices may include one or more of (only one of
each depicted):
keyboard 1101, mouse 1102, trackpad 1103, touch screen 1110 and associated
graphics adapter
1150, data-glove, joystick 1105, microphone 1106, scanner 1107, camera 1108.
[133] Computer system 1100 may also include certain human interface output
devices. Such
human interface output devices may be stimulating the senses of one or more
human users
through, for example, tactile output, sound, light, and smell/taste. Such
human interface output
devices may include tactile output devices (for example tactile feedback by
the touch-screen
1110, data-glove, or joystick 1105, but there can also be tactile feedback
devices that do not
serve as input devices), audio output devices (such as: speakers 1109,
headphones (not
depicted)), visual output devices (such as screens 1110 to inch.:de cathode
ray tube (CRT)
screens, liquid-crystal display (LCD) screens, plasma screens, ;organic light-
emitting diode
(OLED) screens, each with or without touch-screen input capability, each with
or without tactile
feedback capability¨some of which may be capable to output
dimensional visual output or
more than three dimensional output through means such as stereographic output;
virtual-reality
glasses (not depicted), holographic displays and smoke tanks (not depicted)),
and printers (not
depicted).
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[134] Computer system 1100 can also include human accessi':e storage devices
and their
associated media such as optical media including CD/DVD ROM/RW 1120 with
CD/DVD or
the like media 1121, thumb-drive 1122, removable hard drive cr solid state
drive 1123, legacy
magnetic media such as tape and floppy disc (not depicted), specialized
ROM/ASIC/PLD based
devices such as security dongles (not depicted), and the like.
[135] Those skilled in the art should also understand that term "computer
readable media" as
used in connection with the presently disclosed subject matter does not
encompass transmission
media, carrier waves, or other transitory signals.
[136] Computer system 1100 can also include interface(s) to one or more
communication
networks (1155). Networks can for example be wireless, wirene, optical.
Networks can further
be local, wide-area, metropolitan, vehicular and industrial, real-time, delay-
tolerant, and so on.
Examples of networks include local area networks such as Ethernet, wireless
LANs, cellular
networks to include global systems for mobile communications (GSM), third
generation (3G),
fourth generation (4G), fifth generation (5G), Long-Term EvoHion (LTE), and
the like, TV
wireline or wireless wide area digital networks to include cable TV, satellite
TV, and terrestrial
broadcast TV, vehicular and industrial to include CANBus, ancl so forth.
Certain networks
commonly require external network interface adapters (1154) tlat attached to
certain general
purpose data ports or peripheral buses (1149) (such as, for example universal
serial bus (USB)
ports of the computer system 1100; others are commonly integrated into the
core of the computer
system 1100 by attachment to a system bus as described below (for example
Ethernet interface
into a PC computer system or cellular network interface into a smartphone
computer system).
As an example, network 1155 may be connected to peripheral bus 1149 using
network interface
1154. Using any of these networks, computer system 1100 can communicate with
other entities.
Such communication can be uni-directional, receive only (for example,
broadcast TV), uni-
directional send-only (for example CANbus to certain CANbus devices), or bi-
directional, for
example to other computer systems using local or wide area digital networks.
Certain protocols
and protocol stacks can be used on each of those networks and network
interfaces (1154) as
described above.
[137] Aforementioned human interface devices, human-accesible storage devices,
and network
1
interfaces can be attached to a core 1140 of the computer system 1100.
1
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[138] The core 1140 can include one or more Central Processng Units (CPU)
1141, Graphics
Processing Units (GPU) 1142, specialized programmable processing units in the
form of Field
Programmable Gate Areas (FPGA) 1143, hardware accelerators 1144 for certain
tasks, and so
forth. These devices, along with Read-only memory (ROM) 1145, Random-access
memory
(RAM) 1146, internal mass storage such as internal non-user accessible hard
drives, solid-state
drives (SSDs), and the like 1147, may be connected through a system bus 1148.
In some
computer systems, the system bus 1148 can be accessible in the form of one or
more physical
plugs to enable extensions by additional CPUs, GPU, and the like. The
peripheral devices can be
attached either directly to the core's system bus 1148, or througli a
'peripheral bus 1149.
Architectures for a peripheral bus include peripheral component interconnect
(PCI), USB, and
the like.
[139] CPUs 1141, GPUs 1142, FPGAs 1143, and accelerators 1144 can execute
certain
instructions that, in combination, can make up the aforementioned computer
code. That
computer code can be stored in ROM 1145 or RAM 1146. Traasitional data can be
also be
stored in RAM 1146, whereas permanent data can be stored for example, in the
internal mass
storage 1147. Fast storage and retrieve to any of the memory devices can be
enabled through the
use of cache memory, that can be closely associated with one or more CPU 1141,
GPU 1142,
mass storage 1147, ROM 1145, RAM 1146, and the like.
[140] The computer readable media can have computer code thereon for
performing various
computer-implemented operations. The media and computer code can be those
specially
designed and constructed for the purposes of the present disclosure, or they
can be of the kind
well known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts.
[141] As an example and not by way of limitation, the computer system having
architecture
1100, and specifically the core 1140 can provide functionality as a result of
processor(s)
(including CPUs, GPUs, FPGA, accelerators, and the like) executing software
embodied in one
or more tangible, computer-readable media. Such computer-readable media can be
media
associated with user-accessible mass storage as introduced abo-,e, as well as
certain storage of
the core 1140 that are of non-transitory nature, such as core-internal mass
storage 1147 or ROM
1145. The software implementing various embodiments of the present disclosure
can be stored
in such devices and executed by core 1140. A computer-readable medium can
include one or
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more memory devices or chips, according to particular needs. The software can
cause the core
1140 and specifically the processors therein (including CPU, GPU, FPGA, and
the like) to
execute particular processes or particular parts of particular prcesses
described herein, including
defining data structures stored in RAM 1146 and modifying such data structures
according to the
processes defined by the software. In addition or as an alternative, the
computer system can
provide functionality as a result of logic hardwired or otherwise embodied in
a circuit (for
example: accelerator 1144), which can operate in place of or together with
software to execute
particular processes or particular parts of particular processes described
herein. Reference to
software can encompass logic, and vice versa, where appropriate. Reference to
a computer-
readable media can encompass a circuit (such as an integrated circuit (IC))
storing software for
execution, a circuit embodying logic for execution, or both, where
appropriate. The present
disclosure encompasses any suitable combination of hardware and software.
[142] While this disclosure has described several exemplary embodiments, there
are alterations,
permutations, and various substitute equivalents, which fall within the scope
of the disclosure. It
will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise
numerous systems and
methods which, although not explicitly shown or described herin, embody the
principles of the
disclosure and are thus within the spirit and scope thereof.
34
